NORMANDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMON COURSE OUTLINE

ART 1109: BASIC STILL PHOTOGRAPHY (3 credits)

I. Effective Date: Fall 2007

II. Catalog Description: A non-darkroom course studying the camera, its features, and operations. A variety of projects engage students in solving aesthetic and technical problems incorporating analysis, interpretation, and expression. Also included is an introduction to digital imaging on the computer. Students learn to produce well-composed images using both black & white and color film, and will use commercial labs for film processing. Students must have a 35 mm film camera (manual aperture and/or shutter strongly recommended). 3 credits FALL, SPRING

MnTC Goals 2 & 6

III. Recommended Skills: No prerequisites.

IV. Course Content:

A. Camera

1. Aperture and shutter

2. Lenses

B. Film

1. Characteristics responsible for recording the image

2. Film types, sensitivity, and the development procedure

3. Evaluation of film negatives and slides

C. Exposure of film

1. Measuring luminosity

2. Use of filters

D. Printing from negatives/slides

E. Historic survey of photography

F. Contemporary influences using photography

G. Digital Imaging

H. Aesthetics - Photography as an art form

1. Developing personal vision

2. Design skill

I. Presentation of prints - matting/mounting

V. Outcomes: Students should be able to:

A. Identify and explain 35mm camera operation, the characteristics of black & white and color films, lighting fundamentals, and printing techniques for successful use of the camera as a visual tool. Demonstrate the ability to use technical skills by successfully completing a variety of photographic assignments. MnTC Goal 2 (A); Goal 6 (A, C, D)

B. Utilize basic computer knowledge in generating digitized images. MnTC Goal 2 (B); 6 (A, C, D)

C. Create and explain original photographs that explore a variety of formal problems. Demonstrate and explain a personal visual expression and the perceptual ability to make aesthetic judgments. MnTC Goal 2 (B); Goal 6 (A,C,D)

D. Identify and explain the basic visual elements that are common to all works of art. Demonstrate the ability to use these visual elements in photography to create effective compositions and designs. MnTC Goal 2 (C); Goal 6 (A, C, D)

E. Identify and describe historic and contemporary photography as a means of expressing

human values. MnTC Goal 6 (A, B, C)

F. Participate in group discussions and critiques to evaluate and explain the effectiveness

of personal photographs and those of others. MnTC Goal 2 (D); Goal 6 (C, E)

VI. Evaluation: Individual instructors may devise their own methods for assessing performance.

Methods of evaluation may include:

A. Creativity in interpreting assignments

B. Technical skills demonstrated in completing assignments

C. Participation in group critiques

D. Tests on photography definitions and terms, basic camera knowledge and technical procedures

E. Attendance and participatio